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Headlight upgrade ideas

13K views 30 replies 12 participants last post by  midnightrider05 
#1 ·
Has anyone Upgraded their headlight, and kept it in the Stock housing? I keep getting spammed with LED Headlights, and HD Style Projector Knockoffs on my FB. Just wondering if anyone has actually done one or had some success with them.

Basically, I just want to be seen better during the day. I had some ideas of building my own LED Highway Lights last year, none of which panned out, or looked that good. Not looking at dumping a few Bills on a decent Highway Light Bar setup either.

So what have any of my fellow riders done to improve visibility to Cagers without sacrificing looks.

(From What I understand, with the Memphis Fats Adjustable/ Removable Windshield and OEM Lightbar wont fit anyway)

My last Idea was changing mirrors that had the LED Signals in the stems, and building stems where the signals now were to hold a Highway Light..

Thanks
 
#2 · (Edited)
I remember seeing someone post about using the stock headlight to upgrade their light using the stock housing. this thread was probably the best http://www.volusiariders.com/47-custom-mods/311426-led-headlights-2.html but I can't seem to find where they wrote up about using the original housing. gah, i just searched back through and found something. here is the thread I was talking about where someone used the original housing. I looked into it at one point but just seemed like a lot of work and it would be easier to change the housing which I didn't do either. here is the link though let me know what you decide. post pics etc

http://www.volusiariders.com/47-custom-mods/353585-headlight-change.html
 
#3 ·
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#4 · (Edited)
#6 ·
Actually if I am running the freeway locally, I wear my High Viz Flagging Vest over my Leathers.. I've been in too many close calls, I run the fast lane anymore almost to the far left between the yellow line and the tire rut. I tossed in a Silverstar Ulta last year to help, and am actually impressed with night vision once i really dialed in the headlight, mine was just about pointing straight down.

Ill take a look at the Cyclops, I also was given a HID kit salvaged from a wrecked car, its a decent one, not a cheap O'Riley Special. But was afraid of beam scatter and pissing off the cagers. I also have a Projector Housing scavenged from a wrecked Toyota Avalon that has a decent lens and was figuring how to graft it to the lens, to make it adjustable.

I am more after daytime visibility as well. I actually saw a Harley the other day that ran a set of LED Strips down the forks, that really got my attention as I have really tinted windows in my Daily, but was unable to see how they were mounted and what kind of LEDs they were. He also had the LED spot lights, Turn Signals/ Front Running lights and a really interesting Headlight. All made him look like a Freight Train coming down the Boulevard..

I am also modifying the rear signals to incorporate some bright red LEDs to come on with the Brakes, may figure out a flashing circuit to wig wag them..
 
#12 ·
You may want to check out the Vololights License Plate Frame. (vololights brakeless deceleration indicator / https://www.amazon.com/Vololights-M...s=vololights+brakeless+deceleration+indicator). It doesn't use your brake light circuit, but uses accelerometers to determine when you are slowing down by either gear changes or coming off the throttle. Since these actions slow you down without turning on the brake light, people following you may not see that you are decelerating. I put it on my Volusia and have noticed a marked difference in how people follow me. They seem to give me a lot more room now. I've also been stopped by a couple of police officers who were very interested in the system and wanted to get them for themselves and their motorcycle officers.

Anything we can do to make us more visible is a good thing. When all else fails, use your Stebel Airhorns!
 
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#7 ·
I found one linked here on this site. Direct plug in, fits in the bucket, ballast and all.
It's an HID low beam with a halogen high beam. Because of the reduced current from the HID I wired them both together when the high beams are switched on.
 
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#8 ·
So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Cyclops. Did some research on it and it seems to be a really well reviewed setup for just about any bike right now to improve visibility? day and night. So that is on its way.

I also pulled the trigger on these to do the poor man's Walmart Highway Light Mod



They are 2" square, 10w Cree LED and have a nice focused beam. Chatted with my Rock Crawler neighbor and saw his tiny lights on his windshield and gave me the link to them. He's unhappy because I'm paying a fraction of what he did as they are on sale right now. He lit them up in the dark last night and if I am running these during the day as well as the Cyclops and I am not seen, then the person is blind.

They should fit nicely like the Walmart Mod on the plastic trim over the signal mounts, I'm going to shorten the brackets a bit and use stainless hardware. Even if I have to use some stainless and build my own tabs, but this is cleaner than any of my ideas from last year.

For the wiring I already ran a 12 awg wire to the headlight as a upgradeable accessory lead, to a relay that's triggered by the accessory lead so the really turns on with the bike. It's also a double pole relay so I can tap in a new wire to it and to a switch mounted someplace yet to be determined to control the lights so I can switch them off if need be. Don't want to blind people at night.

Between the Cyclops and the Spot Lights I should be good forward. Now to figure out how to rig up these red LEDs for my accessory Brake booster.


Thanks for all the input.
 
#9 ·
Figured Id carry the LEDs a bit further with a new set of LED Signals for the front, and a Red set to replace the rear signals, so Ill have Signals and additional brakes and possibly Running lights on the rear as well.. I just have to figure out how I can wire both the brake and the signal to the same wire without back feeding the signal to taillight. I might just wire the signals to the dimmer set of LEDs, and the BRake to the bright or vice versa. see how bright both are. I also ordered a adjustable Signal Relay to prevent Hyperflash, but its adjustable to meet whatever speed you want.





Also found a clean accessory switch for the new Highway Lights.. all from China Bay but the sellers were top rated. just gotta wait the few weeks, lol no hurry spring has yet to show up here..



so hopefully with all these upgrades I should be a bit more visible to cagers.. :roll:
 
#11 ·
Everything I read it fits nicely, I was gonna pull the trigger on the 7k myself, but hesitated. my Buckets gonna be really tight now with the 2 extra accessory relays and now the ballast for the Cyclops.
 
#13 ·
Pretty cool frame. But the way I have my plate lay down it Mich be more difficult to install. I'm wiring the new red led turn signals the signals will be on the bright lead but the brakes I'll have on the dimmer running lead. I'm trying to figure if I can wire a diode into them so I can have bright signals and brakes and running lights on the dim.
 
#14 ·
The Spotlights showed up today and I have to say they are beyond what I expected. I can see why the off-roaders like the brand. They are bright and have a nice beam pattern should be just what I need to be seen more in the daylight as well as the Cyclops. Just need the switch and the left signals to show up and start the wiring.

I'm trying to figure a cheap way I can make the new red LED rear signals work as running brake and turn. I saw the trailer wiring bix and that's a cheap route but I'm thinking of just building my own box with 4 2 amp diodes to prevent bafkfeed. The new Hopkins Module is a lot larger than the old ones.







 
#17 ·
The Cyclops has a well-designed low beam cutoff shield so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic.
 
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#21 · (Edited)
If you look in common mods I got the idea from the WalMArt Light mod..





I have hence changed the thru bolt with a 1/4" Allen Pan head, and acorn nut to match all the allen Heads on the windshield and my custom lowers. I also slipped in some clear rubber to put uner the mounts for a bit of isolation, and prevent the bracket from gouging the chrome. stainless 6mm bolt thru the base with a washer and locknut and nylock on the underside, and it clears the signal bracket perfectly. Before its finalized ill polish the bracket to a mirror finish as well as the bolt head.

Still waiting on the darn handlebar switch, and my Cyclops Showed up today smashed... :crying2: Thankfully I am being sent another one..
 
#24 ·
Front signals will be routed thru the control relay when a signal is activated it will turn off the lights like most cars do with their DRLs. The handlebar switch will be next to the signal switch as well for easy flipping.

My old man had a good idea if I decide to do some night riding I can always aim them.and use them to light up the ditches.

I may get the wiring done this weekend as it's going to be pouring rain and windy all weekend. Check out Fallen Cycles on eBay. He's has a ton of Boulevard Stuff not listed. I've gotten a few bits from him directly and he is well priced dealing directly. He also donates to disabled veterans and hires veterans. Good company in Daytona Beach.
 
#25 ·
And now the switch I have been waiting for showed up and was not as advertised, not even close.. just gonna drill the bucket and put in a switch like the older harleys used for their aux lights on the RKs
 
#26 ·
After a few setbacks, and a tiny revision change, I am hoping to wire the LED Spots in this weekend. I built my own bracket for the new switch I will be using, it will be tucked under the top triple tree, using the bolt for the windshield. Yep I can work with sheet metal. just have to do a few tiny tack welds, wish I could get my hands on a Tig, but i can tack it with the mig, spot it in and prime and paint it. should the paint fail ill send it for powdercoating. I am now hesitant to deal with Chinese FleaBay Sellers.. Just happy I cot my money back for the switch I was gonna get, and was sent a $1 pos switch in place of it.. AVOID CAFERACERPARTS on ebay, hes a crook and a swindler.





Also on Sundays ride I must of took a rock or the vibration but one of the pins on the signal cover broke. I tried repairing it but superglue melted the plastic, and Fix It Refused to even stick, so a quick call to Fallen Cycles in Daytona Beach and 2 days later I had a nice newer one on my door.. and I redid and Reinforced my idea a bit, but they are still mounted in the same way.

LED Signals should be here Tomorrow or Saturday, as well as my replacement Cyclops Bulb. Great guys. I sent back the smashed one, they took up the claim with USPS and they shipped my new one via FedEx no questions asked.

I really cannot wait to see how much light this will put out together..

Testing with my DC power supply set at 12.8 Volts



With the stock bulb and standard turns

 
#27 ·
Before: Stock everything with LED Spots



After: Cyclops LED Bulb, LED Spot Lights and LED Signals on running light mode





I should be seen now. I have to finish the wiring of the back signals tomorrow. What a pain it has been, relays, and new wiring and doing it so it can all be removed and reversed without cutting the factory harness. I even depinned the old signal relay out and tied into it for the new relay.

Just have one oddity now with the LED signals is now my signal indicator turns on and flashes dim and bright when a signal is on.. I cannot remember if it did that before.. I did put in diodes to prevent backfeed. Everything seems to work and I have no unusual draw.
 
#28 ·
Forgot to add this, I had to shorten my switch bracket about 3/4". To keep the switch from hitting the side cover



An inherent design is if I leave the switch on, and I lean the bars to lock to pops the switch to off. Lol. I challenged my dad to find where I had mounted it, and he knew and saw me build the bracket. Took him 5 minutes but he finally saw it and he would never thought of looking there. I hit the bracket with a few coats of BBQ black followed by a few coats of Chrome in a can. It blends in with the triple tree nicely.

All and all a huge improvement in light and in gains to power drain. Cannot wait to hit the road with the new setup and new custom touches.
 
#29 ·
Forgot to post but I got out last week for a test run of the new setup. Went for a short trip with a friend I caught out as well. About 20 minutes in he pulls off and waves me in as asked me to turn off the highway lights. Lol said all he could see behind him was a bight white dot. Lol so I'll have to say mission accomplished.
 
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